Sep 4, 2012

Pookkalam...

Onam is the happiest festival in my predominantly Mallu company. We get a holiday when the rest of Bangalore works. More than that, the employees get to bite the proverbial carrot that was dangling in front of them all the while – the yearly bonus!  There is excitement all around and as a lead up to the big day, the Creative Club conducted the colorful Pookkalam competition. Pookkalam is literally Poo (flower) + Kolam (patterns drawn on the floor). On the day, men and women came wearing traditional attire along with their smile. Work stations were virtually empty as different departments vied for the top spot. The basement floor where the event progressed looked and smelled like a noisy Indian flower market. The camaraderie among the employees was contagious. The senior citizens of the company came as the jury and with their somber faces gave some seriousness to the proceedings. The event concluded with the serving of Payasam. In spite of the competition results, everyone was a winner on the day!   
Festive Colors!
Team work!
working women!
in progress...
the flower girls!
Kaikotti kali...the onam dance...
Maha Bali makes an appearance...
The seriously serious Jury...
a group photo with Maha Bali!
the entry from my department...







photos courtesy my department juniors!

37 comments:

  1. What a glorious way to celebrate!!

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  2. Pookkolam & all other pictures are very Nice, Beautiful, enjoyable.
    Thanks for sharing, Sir. ;)))))

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  3. Thanks very much for sharing this beautiful celebration!Wonderful post!
    ( In Tuscany, the land of my origin in Italy, it does something like this for the day of the "Corpusdomini".
    It's called INFIORATA and sometimes the friends prepare for the bride when she leaves the house for the wedding!
    Our worlds are far away but the use of painting with flower petals in certain feasts there yet!)

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  4. Very beautiful, Ashok! Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Thank you for sharing your celebration with us and the beautiful photos.

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  6. What a wonderful festivity. I love how it honors flowers and fosters creativity. The entries are all beautiful, all winners in my opinion. Thanks for sharing with us.

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  7. oh my word! stunningly beautiful!

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  8. Very beautiful photos. I like very much creations made.

    Greetings, Carmen

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  9. You have got a nice office! Very very friendly atmosphere!

    Each and every pookkalam is beautiful! This looks like a picture post, nice!

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  10. Very beautiful, colorful and enchanting photos... The Pookkolams are fascinating and exhibits the festival spirit! Glad you all had a wonderful Onam :)

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  11. Wow! Colorful and beautiful!

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  12. Wow, marvelous! They look beautiful even before you add the lights.

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  13. This festive occasion is incredible...and your pictures prove it so. Beautiful women...colorful work...and on top of all that a yearly bonus!!!

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  14. Color is everywhere, Ashok!! I love the flower girls...

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  15. What a lovely creation ~ I like reading about your country and festivals ~

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  16. The essence of this festival is completely felt through these lovely captures!

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  17. What a wonderful project and celebration!!!

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  18. Wow! Lovely photos ashok... The pookklams are very beautiful and sounds like a wonderful celebration at your office :)

    The ladies are inspiring in their onam costumes!
    Hugs

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  19. When I see photos like this I wish I had gone to Bangalore with my husband last year while he was there on business. Beautiful!

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  20. what amazing photographs!! such beautiful and breathtaking work!

    thank you for your kind comment.

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  21. I love it, nice festival.

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  22. Pretty huge poo kolams. Should have been hard to get the faces right... I love the last kolam with the diyas. So pleasant to the eye and just lovely!

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  23. What a beautiful celebration!!

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  24. Happy Onam. Beautiful flower decorations.

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  25. Ah! Where there are holidays, I'd like to be :-)

    Great post, Ashok and once again, many thanks for the wishes.

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  26. Lovely, beautiful and colourful shots...

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  27. what beautiful vibrant designs

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  28. beautiful
    nice photos

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  29. Hello Ashok:) Wow, I've never see something like this before. Beautiful. Great art too!

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  30. wahh superb yar...onam is well celebrated in the gulf too in a grand manner...good post n pix boss

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  31. Anonymous11:10 PM

    Wow! Those flower carpets are works of art - so gorgeous.

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  32. Beautiful! Great teamwork. What a festive occasion. So colorful and pretty, too!

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  33. This is an awesome post. I love, love, love every photo on here. thanks for taking the time to share this.

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  34. Really enjoyed reading about your holiday and seeing these great photos, Ashok. Thank you for posting!

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  35. This is incredible. Thank you!

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  36. Wow! That is a beautiful post. Like it!

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  37. So beautiful! And what a treat to be able to do this in your workplace. I live in the states and unfortunately, have a family that is not very close, but in our own home we make sure to celebrate colorful festivals and holidays such as Deepavali and Raksha Bandhan every year for our children.

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